"Water Lemon", a drama set in Mauban, Quezon by Lem Lorca (who hails from there and makes the film a homage to his hometown) won three awards: best actress for Tessie Tomas, best supporting actor for Lou Veloso and best screenplay for Lilit Reyes. "Sleepless", a romantic comedy about call center workers directed by Prime Cruz, won best actor for Dominic Roco and the NETPAC special award for best film.
"Patintero, Alamat ni Meng Patalo" won Gender Sensitivity and Audience Choice Awards. There were no technical awards for cinematography, sound, musical score and production design. The films are being shown on Gateway, Trinoma and Robinson's Galleria. The other entries in competition are "Kapatiran" by Pepe Diokno, "Iisa" by Chuck Gutierrez, "Gayuma" by Cesar Hernando and "Matangtubig" by Jet Leyco.
After QCinema, coming up next is Cinema One Originals Filmfest which has nine entries given a grant of P2 million each. Here are the entries:
"Mga Rebeldeng May Kaso" by Raymond Red - About young people who make independent and alternative cinema after the EDSA revolution, starring Felix Roco, Epy Quizon, Earl Ignacio and Nicco Manalo.
"Dayang Asu" by Bor Ocampo - An action drama about illegal quarrying in Central Luzon and a son who tries to prove to his father that he can survive in a world that is full of institutional corruption starring Ricky Davao and Junjun Quintana
"Dahlin' Nick" by Sari Dalena - A docu-drama that pays tribute as it explores the life and works of National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, as played by Raymond Bagatsing, with Alessandra de Rossi, Maribel Lopez, Dindi Gallardo as Imelda Marcos and literary giants like Bien Lumbera, Butch Dalisay, Gemino Abad and Krip Yuzon.
"Miss Bulalacao" by Ara Chawdhury - A black comedy about a young man (played by newcomer Russ Ligtas) who joins a gay beauty pageant, gets pregnant when abducted by aliens and his bulging tummy is reported to have healing powers, also starring Tessie Tomas, Nanette Inventor and Mon Cofiado, filmed in Biliran, Leyte using the native Visayan language.
"Baka Siguro Yata" by Joel Ferrer - Features the intertwining stories of a dysfunctional family showing various views of love from different generations, with Cherie Gil, Ricky Davao, Bangs Garcia and introducing Dino Pastrana.
"The Comeback" by Ivan Andrew Payawal - About a famous actress who has become a has been and contemplates on committing suicide after she has lost her career and everything else in life, starring Kaye Abad, Patrick Garcia, Valeen Montenegro and Matt Evans.
"Manang Biring" by Carl Joseph Papa - This is an animation entry about a dying old woman who tries to prolong her life to be able to see her estranged daughter who's coming home for Christmas.
"Bukod Kang Pinagpala" by Sheron Dayoc - This is a horror film about a mother and her daughter, Bing Pimentel and real life daughter Maxine Eignemann, who live in an old house in Baguio full of religious images, with the fanatically religious slowly losing her sanity. Also starring Paolo Paraiso and Lui Manansala.
"Hamog" by Ralston Jover. The story of four street children called batang hamog and their trials and struggles to survive amidst a life of crime in the streets of Metro Manilas. Starring Zaijan Jaranilla, Teri Malvar, Sam Quitania, and Bor Lentejas.
This is Cinema One Originals' 11th year. Last year, they came up with a real winner, "That Thing Called Tadhana", which not only won awards but was a huge commercial blockbuster when it was released commercially in various theaters. It also boosted immensely the career of its writer-director, Antoinette Jadaone. Here's hoping that the batch of entries this year will similarly produce something as successful as "Tadhana". The cinema outlets for this year are Trinoma, Glorietta, SM Megamall and Resorts World, running from November 8 to 17.
